Rockstar's commitment to free DLC has been key to Grand Theft Auto Online's longevity.
Published by Aron Gerencser on Jun 26, 2024Last modified on Nov 21, 2024 09:21 PST
Since its launch in 2013, Grand Theft Auto Online, the multiplayer portion of GTA 5, has been continuously evolving with a steady stream of free DLC updates. From festive surprises to massive expansions, these content drops have introduced new vehicles, weapons, missions, properties, heists, game modes, and much more to keep players engaged in the ever-growing world of Los Santos and Blaine County.
Below, you will find a full and complete list of all GTA V Downloadable Content & Updates (for GTA Online) in chronological order from newest to oldest, each of them linking to their respective article providing detailed information.
2024
Catch criminals and moonlight as a law enforcement agent.
- Bottom Dollar Bounties — The big summer update for 2024, Bottom Dollar Bounties introduced a new bounty hunting and bail enforcement business as well as Dispatch Work, finally allowing players to roleplay as law enforcement agents in clandestine of-the-books cop work. Alongside these two main activities, a bunch of vehicles and other items have been added to GTA Online, an a huge selection of activities had their GTA$ payouts permanently increased.
2023
- The Chop Shop — Launched on the 12th of December as the last Grand Theft Auto Online downloadable content update of the year, and its second major one, The Chop Shop hooked players up with Liberty City tycoon Yusuf Amir and tasked players with — hold onto your seats everyone because this one is a shocker — stealing cars! Once you've calmed down and got your bearings, there is more; the new Salvage Yard property will get you access to these new robbery activities, which require careful planning to pull off, since you're not stealing just any old beater off the street. This update also brought a bunch of regular vehicles, and much more coveted law enforcement vehicles that players could purchase. GTA+ subscribers gained access to the Club Garage, a new garage space with capacity for 100 cars. Smaller additions include a battle rifle, wild animal encounters and drift races.
- San Andreas Mercenaries — Launched on the 13th of June, 2023, San Andreas Mercenaries represents the major summer downloadable content update for the year. In such fashion, the amount of additions are major. Alongside a bevy of new vehicles, brand new mission types targeting the Merryweather private military company will send players on explosive new activities as the Los Santos Angels, a freelance mercenary group operating out of your own Mammoth Avengers. Additional items, quality of life improvements and side-content, such as an expansion of the stable of cars eligible for Taxi Work, are also included.
2022
- Los Santos Drug Wars — Released on December 13, 2022, Los Santos Drug Wars is a massive downloadable content update that features a new two-part story mission and a new Acid Lab business that is available upon completion of the story missions. The new drug-selling enterprise introduces features from the classic 2009 GTA title China Town Wars, such as selling drugs and raiding gang warehouses. As usual, the update also features a new set of missions and vehicles. The update also introduces several highly-requested quality-of-life updates, such as the ability to hide phone contacts from the phone, start selling missions directly from the Terrorbyte in all session types, and the ability to complete the Casino story missions solo. The PlayStation 5 and the Xbox Series X|S also received real-time raytraced reflections as part of the update.
- Criminal Enterprises — The biggest update to hit Grand Theft Auto Online not only in 2022 thus far, but throughout the game's entire run. The Criminal Enterprises downloadable content brought new missions and functionality to Executives, MC Presidents, Nightclub Owners and Gunrunners while introducing a new storyline and bringing in the standard crop of new vehicles. This DLC is also notable for its gameplay tweaks and quality of life improvements, like allowing Business activities in private sessions and increasing the property limit.
- Hao's Special Works — Released alongside Expanded and Enhanced on the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S, this downloadable content packed buffed out the LS Car Meet's underground area with an additional shop, more Time Trials, extra car customization features and the function of directly purchasing copies of other player vehicles being shown off at the car meet. Hao's Special Works would also introduce its own subline of weekly changing bonuses and discounts for next-gen players.
2021
- The Contract — Shifting attention to story driven, single player content within Online, The Contract brings back Franklin Clinton and Dr. Dre in a new narratively focused adventure. Players join Franklin's agency specializing in solving delicate problems for the elite, hang out with Dre in his studio and take on a bunch of contracts to up the company's rep. There's also plenty of standard downloadable content fluff here — clothes, cars, weapons. Rockstar also revealed that this is just the first chapter of our cooperative adventures with Franklin, and The Contract introduces a format we'll see repeatedly in future downloadable content.
- Los Santos Tuners — A major update bringing a new peaceful car meet location to Cypress Flats, LS Car Meet, featuring a Test Track and a bunch of vendors accessible to players paying for a membership. The Test Track allows players to win a new car each week while trying out upcoming dripfeed vehicle DLC, and membership benefits also include the chance to buy a new Auto Shop property and engage in complext multi-part robbery Contracts. Los Santos Tuners also added 10 new cars to Grand Theft Auto Online.
2020
- The Cayo Perico Heist — The biggest update ever to hit GTA Online, The Cayo Perico Heist introduced a new landmass for the very first time, alongside an ambitious new heist with optional setups and a solo mode. Alongside the titular caper, The Music Locker opened beneath the Diamond featuring new resident DJs, a bunch of new vehicles and clothing items were added to the game and players could purchase a refurbished nuclear submarine.
- Los Santos Summer Special — Large summer update bringing 15 new vehicles, 6 new co-op missions that can be launched from yachts and a number of expansions to existing activities, including an Open Wheel Race Creator.
- Gerald's Last Play — This update added 6 new Contact Missions to the game.
- Open Wheel Races — This DLC added Formula 1 style races to the game, including 7 tracks and 2 new vehicles with unique upgrade options.
2019
- The Diamond Casino Heist — Continuing the story of the Diamond Casino, players team up with Lester to rob its vault. A new Arcade business was made available alongside a planning Hideout, as well as 12 vehicles and new side activities. iFruit Radio was added to the game in this DLC.
- Diamond Casino & Resort — The Diamond Casino brought with it plenty of opportunities to lose money, and a few to win some as well. Players could purchase personal penthouses, complete 5 narrative missions and a number of Casino Work missions. 6 vehicles were added to the game.
2018
- Arena War — Arena War came after a long period without any fresh downloadable content primarily due to the release of Red Dead Redemption 2. The update introduced the Maze Bank Arena bringing 7 new game modes, Career progression and 12 new vehicles to the game. These can be upgraded and customized at the Arena Workshop.
- After Hours — After Hours brought the biggest change to the way money is made in GTA Online ever since businesses were introduced by Further Adventures in Finance and Felony. With the consolidated warehouse, businesses turned into sources of passive income. Beyond this, the new nightclub business was added alongside 7 new vehicles. Old fan-favorite characters Gay Tony and Lazlow also made their return.
- Southern San Andreas Super Sport Series — A smaller update adding a new racing mode, Hotring Circuit, with 10 available tracks as well as a large vehicle roster, bringing 13 new rides to Grand Theft Auto Online.
2017
- Festive Surprise 2017 — A return of the festive downloadable content seen in the previous holiday DLCs, with snowfall occurring in-game during Christmas and New Year's Eve.
- The Doomsday Heist — GTA Online's biggest DLC ever brought a new heist to the game for the first time since 2015, alongside a huge list of other content. Players can buy new Facilities which, besides unlocking the new missions, would grant access to the Avenger, a flying HQ, strike teams and an orbital cannon. The Doomsday Heist brought end-game content to the game for the first time, one of the biggest vehicle drops, 10 more outfit slots, a new radio station and new achievements.
- Transform Races — Yet another riff on stunt races, this downloadable content added a new mechanic where driving over certain checkpoints would change your vehicle to one altogether different in a puff of smoke. Players would go from cars to planes to boats across a wide selection of tracks.
- Smuggler's Run — A callback to an older Rockstar IP in name only, Smuggler's Run refocused the game on air superiority by adding a new mission specific property, hangars, as well as several planes and other aerial vehicles. Smuggling missions saw players sourcing contraband items, taking them back to their hangars, then going on sell missions. It was followed by a large about of weekly vehicle releases tied into the theme of the update.
- Gunrunning — 2017's biggest downloadable content added a whole new world of crime to Southern San Andreas. Players can go full super villain with new Bunker HQs from where they can launch illicit weapon trading missions and research new weapon attachments and upgrades. With the massive Mobile Operations Center and weaponized vehicles, Gunrunning takes the action to the road. New character customization options finally cater to the military enthusiast niche as well.
- Cunning Stunts: Special Vehicle Circuit — This follow up to 2016's massively popular Cunning Stunts took the original concept and mixed in some of Import/Export's special vehicles. 20 new tracks were added to the game designed around the abilities of either the Rocket Voltic, The Blazer Aqua or the Ruiner 2000. The tracks were joined by the Progen GP1 classic supercar and the removal of heist-completion requirements for a number of vehicles such as the Hydra and the HVY Insurgent.
2016
- Import/Export — Import/Export continued the long-running CEO series of updates, this time returning to the roots of the franchise by once again placing the emphasis on the stealing of vehicles. This new mechanic was joined by mammoth 60-slot garages, a whole lot of vehicles and other content, including a host of unique, "special vehicles" which all had some kind of special ability — or multiple. These included cars with jet-engines strapped to their rear, amphibious buggies and KITT from Knight Rider, among other. That said, the actual import and export missions were the focal point of the DLC and it gave us the newest most lucrative activity in the game, allowing players to make a ton of cash in relatively short amounts of time when done right.
- Halloween 2016 — Though it added the all new Sanctus bike, the 2016 Halloween Downloadable Content was mostly a retread of last year's Halloween Surprise. At least the Franken Strange and Lurcher went back on sale!
- Deadline — Deadline added the Nagasaki Shotaro to the game, which was a clear homage to Tron, alongside the Deadline Adversary Mode, which is similar to light cycle battles from the same film.
- Bikers — Finally answering the most popular community request, Rockstar added a full fledged biker themed update to the game. Bringing in 13 new bikes, clubhouses, new clothing items, clandestine businesses and much more, Bikers made quite the splash when it launched. What's better, Rockstar has been updating it with small vehicle batches since.
- Stunt Race Creator — Originally intended to be part of Cunning Stunts, the Stunt Race Creator was postponed. Released pretty soon after Cunning Stunts, the new update allowed players access to the multitude of new props used by the stunt races via the creator, enabling them to craft their own death-trap-circuits.
- Cunning Stunts — One of the best recieved updates the game has ever been expanded with, Cunning Stunts added the now beloved stunt races, as well as an absolute massive library of vehicles. Cunning Stunts also saw the addition of Premium Races, allowing the best drivers in Los Santos to risk more for a bigger prize.
- Further Adventures In Finance And Felony — A massive update which shook up the standard Grand Theft Auto Online gameplay form that has cemented since Executives was released. Adding the all new crate missions, Finance and Felony gave players a reasonably lucrative alternative to heisting, as well as a slew of new vehicles, clothing and more. Possibly the best addition is the new weapon locker, which somewhat alleviates the game's trouble with the weapon wheel.
- Lowriders: Custom Classics - A relatively small DLC update which added three new vehicles to Benny's Original Motorworks, a host of character customization options, two new weapons and the Sumo Adversary Mode.
- Be My Valentine DLC - Celebrating Valentine's day, this update brought back the good old Roosvelt as well as an updated version. The DLC also added new clothing options and a new Adversary Mode titled Till Death Do Us Part. The Gusenberg Sweeper also made a return.
- rop Zone January 2016 Update - A minor update, this downloadable content added two vehicles to Benny's Original Motorworks and a new Adversary Mode.
2015
- Festive Surprise 2015 DLC - Celebrating Christmas has become something of a tradition in Grand Theft Auto Online — Fireworks, Snow, a new car and several new customization items.
- Executives and Other Criminals - The Executives update is one of the largest ever seen in GTA Online, introducing the deep and layerd VIP and Bodyguard system. Several new weapons and vehicles were also added, along with the end-game Super yachts.
- Halloween Surprise DLC - This spooky update added an all new Adversary Mode, two cars, a weapons and new masks.
- Lowriders - A large update adding a new contact to GTA Online providing missions as well as Benny's Original Motorworks, a new car shop where you can customize lowrider vehicles. New weapons and clothing items were also introduced.
- Freemode Events - A significant update bringing major changes to the underlying mechanics of GTA Online by wiping away job lobbies and loading screens. It also added a massive amount of new event types.
- Ill-Gotten Gains Part 1 & Part 2 - An end-game update focusing on expensive new customization items, weapons and vehicles. It is notorious for adding a gold-plated jet which costs 10 million in $GTA .
- GTA Online Heists Update - One of, if not the, largest update GTA Online has seen. Adding a massive amount of vehicles and, more importantly, the difficult but lucrative heist missions to the game.
2014
- Festive Surprise DLC - The second Christmas themed update brought snow to Los Santos, as well as a handful of clothes, weapons and vehicles.
- Last Team Standing Update - As the name suggests, this update added the LTS game mode to Grand Theft Auto Online alongside two weapons and three vehicles.
- San Andreas Flight School Update - This DLC added four new vehicles to the game, as well as flag parachutes and the Flight School missions, allowing players to train as crack pilots.
- Independence Day Special DLC - Following the theme of 'MURICA, this update added the Musket weapon, a Monster Truck, a bike, rural safehouses and massive amount of new clothing for a limited time. It was re-introduced in 2015.
- I'm Not A Hipster Update - This downloadable content added two new weapons, a whopping 7 new cars and a dozen new missions. New customization options go without saying.
- High Life Update - Another update focusing on luxury and riches, High Life adds a few new vehicles, a new weapon, and a handful of clothes and apartments — as well as new missions with which to earn cash for buying all that.
- Business Update - A minor update adding some new vehicles, weapons and customization items with a common formal theme.
- Valentine's Day Massacre Special DLC - Going for a retro gangster look, this DLC adds retro clothing, the Roosevelt old timer and the Sweeper, GTA's take on the Tommy Gun.
2013
- Holiday Gifts DLC — The first Christmas downloadable content, adding festive clothes and snow.
- Capture Update - This DLC brought the capture game mode to GTA Online.
- Content Creator Update - The extremely versatile Content Creator, which allows players to build their own missions in GTA Online, was added alongside a handful of bugfixes in this update.
- Beach Bum Update - The first content update to ever grace GTA Online, Beach Bum added several new vehicles, two new weapons, and countless new customization items and jobs to the game.
Now that's a lot of free downloadable content for GTA V that we've recieved! So the next time you see some disgruntled player accuse Rockstar of greed, feel free to link them to this page.
We will continue to update it as new DLC is release for Grand Theft Auto Online.
